Feb 19, 2012

Jena.Theo Autumn/Winter 2012-13 London Fashion Week

"We thought the collection's name might mislead people, but we’ve always been a bit tongue-in-cheek," said Jenny Holmes - half of the designer duo - backstage after the show. "The name is actually a link to the materials, we were really interested in mercury, that fluidity - metal in that sense. We wanted to show that we’d grown up a bit and to let the luxury side of what we do speak for itself."

'S latest offering didn’t start how you might think a show entitled Heavy Metal might - instead it began with soft piano-playing. Far from any Black Sabbath connotations, the collection itself was about simple, understated luxury. Silk, chiffon shirts and printed evening dresses baring daring side splits were teamed with skinny jeans in varying washes, providing a decidedly utilitarian edge.

Since winning Fashion Fringe in 2009, Jena.Theo's Holmes and Dimitris Theocharidis have become known for their oversized, draped look and they retained this signature for autumn/winter 2012-13. Loose, voluminous silhouettes were order of the day (albeit of less exaggerated proportions that past seasons) - but that didn’t stop the collection from being feminine. Fabrics flowed behind the models like a train - making for a ethereal, yet tough, feel. Slouchy T-shirts with raw edges were came in luxe silks, while leather jackets looked so soft you wanted to reach out and touch them.